Lahore: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has urged the international community to increase awareness and promotion of Pakistan’s traditional products, cultural heritage, and skilled workforce, emphasizing the country’s potential for exports, trade, and global economic engagement.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Gilani made these remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the New York Chamber of Small Business Corporation office in Lahore. He congratulated the management on the initiative, which aims to strengthen business connections and enhance Pakistan’s commercial outreach on a global scale.

Gilani highlighted Pakistan’s traditional crafts, such as embroidery, blue pottery, ceramics, khussa, and the Sindhi Ajrak, as well as the Ajrak of the Saraiki region, noting their potential for international markets. He underscored the cultural identity these products represent and the opportunities they provide for exports and branding. He pointed to the success of other countries in promoting traditional textiles, suggesting similar potential for Ajrak-based garments from Pakistan.

Discussing Multan’s historical significance, he compared it to Damascus, emphasizing its cultural heritage and the need for greater global recognition of its blue pottery and craftsmanship. Gilani also stressed the importance of developing a skilled workforce to meet international market demands, highlighting opportunities for Pakistani youth in technical, professional, and software-related fields.

He noted the significance of engaging Pakistani communities and business associations abroad, particularly in the United States, as effective platforms for promoting Pakistani products and trade. Gilani acknowledged the role of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) in promoting healthcare and projecting a positive image of Pakistan internationally.

Gilani mentioned his involvement with the Global Muslim Business Forum in Kuala Lumpur and expressed confidence in the benefits of collaboration with international business networks for Pakistan’s economic promotion. He emphasized that Pakistan’s achievements and contributions deserve greater international visibility as the nation moves from challenges of terrorism to a role as facilitator and mediator for peace and cooperation.

Expressing optimism, Gilani remarked that sustained engagement among business communities, international organizations, and the Pakistani diaspora would bolster Pakistan’s global standing and create new opportunities for trade, investment, and employment.